CA2113955C - Insulative wall cladding - Google Patents

Abstract

A wall of a building comprising cladding having a plurality of interconnecting air pressure and moisture vent channels. The cladding prevents formation of an air pressure differential between the outside atmosphere and the inside atmosphere of a building or the atmosphere in a cavity of the cladding, which reduces moisture ingress.
Preferred cladding is further provided with fire-retardant panels.

Description

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I~u~aTIvB W~L~ CLADDIN~

Field Of The Invention This inventlon relates to insulative cladding of walls of buildings, particularly to thermal and water-proof insulative cladding, and to insulation boards and battens of use in said cladding.

Background to thP Inv~ntion Walls of buildings that are not formed of reinforced concrete, typically, comprise structural support members made of steel, concrete and like materials and having cladding disposed therebetween. The outer face of the cladding is generally provided with a decorative finish such as, for exampl , a polished granite slab, a brick wall or an exterior ~inish layer ha~ing an outer surface o~ a polymer/particulate decorative material. In the latter case, the exterior finish is also provided as a rain-fast surface.
Certain types of walls of buildings have an inner cavity between outer cladding and an inner wall, typically consi~ting of a plasterboard material. The aforesaid cavity communicates with the outside atmosphsre to provide an air pressure equalization chamber and water .~

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- 2 - SL363 vent conduit for water ingressing through the outer cladding. Notwithstanding the high degree of care during construction to provide a water-impermeable ieO rain-fast membrane to the outside cladding surface, over periods of time under the in~luence of wind and rain, temperature and frost and the like, hair-line cracks invariably are formed in the rain-fast layer to permit said ingress of moisture through the cladding to the cavity and into the interior of the building. Accordingly, the cavity must communicate ~ith a weep or vent hole or channel to prevent build-up of water within the cavity.
One successful form of insulative cladding presently in use that does not require the presence of an inner cavity comprises a multi-layer insulation board having a, typically, 6-8cm thick layer of insulating foam, such as, expanded polystyrene, polyurethane/ urea-formaldehyde or mineral wool. Adhered to he inner surface of the foam layer is, typically, a gypsum plasterboard layer of approximately 2 cm thickness. On the outer surface of the foam layer is a reinforcing layer of two or more glass fibre meshes floated in a polymer-cement modified basecoat. This basecoat protects the foam insulation layer from both physical damage and moisture ingress. To the outer basecoat layer is provided an exterior decorative layer of a polymer-particulate material, typically, sand dispersed in an acrylic polymer.
Such multi-layer insulative cladding is formed, generally, as a handleable, rectangular batten or board of dimensions of 1.2 m x 0~6 m x 8 cm comprising 4.0 cm ` foam insulative material.
Each of the composite layered battens or boards may be made ln siku, ie. the inner plast rboard and outer water-proofed layers may be adhered to the foam layer after the wall of insulative foam has been constructed, ;`

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Alternatively, the insulative battens and boards may be pre-fabricated and shipped to the construction site. The cladding comprising a plurality of the insulation boards or battens is formed by the plurality of insulation boards being cooperatively bonded in adiacent relationship as to provide insulation to the wall. Such construction lies well within the skill of plasterboard tradesmen. Battens are abutted one on top of and next to other similar battens and caulked or the like to fill in any gaps, voids between battens. Suitable connections to the structural supports of the walls of the building are made.
In considering the desirability of a particular ype of insulative cladding for use in a wall, regard must be had to the ef~ect of wind pressure and rain on the outer wall. In the absence of direct communication between the outside atmosphere and the atmosphere inside the building and/or any cavity, significant air pressure differentials may exist dependent c>n the wind speed and the like. In consequence of this relatively large pressure differential between the outside and inside of the building created by strong winds acting on the wall, significant water ingress through hair-line cracks and other unintentional openings and the like readily occurs.
In the absence of a cavity in the wall such moisture will reach and damage the inside surface of the wall of the building. Accordingly, cavities are most preferred in walls, to prevent water ingress, provided the cavity is - 30 vented to atmosphere to allow for pressure equalization and accumulative water run-off out of the cavity. Thus, cladding systems relying solely on outer face sealing materials suffer the risk of water ingress over time, enhanced by air pressure differential~, rain, and , '' - -.. ~ :.

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_ 4 _ SL363 successive freezing and ~hawing of water contained within the claddiny.
Thus, while he compo~ite layered cladding Gf the prior art provides a generally satisfactorily cladding, which readily enables a decorative cladding ~ystem of a wall to be satis~actorily and quickly constructed, such a resultant wall often suffers from the effects of water damage under the air pressure differentials as a~ore~aid described, in the absence of an outside air-vented cavity.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cladding for the wall of a building which can be readily constructed on-site and which provides air pressure equalization with the outside air.
It is a further object of the invention to provide improved insulation boards or battens for use in the aforesaid improved cladding of the wall of the building~
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to the man skilled in the art rom a reading of thi~, specification as a whole.
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Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the invention providss in its broadest aspect a wall o~ a building comprising cladding having a plurality o~ intercsnnecting air pressure and moisture vent channels.
30The invention provides in a further broad aspect an improved cladding of the wall of a building, said cladding comprising a plurality of insulation boards in cooperative, adjacent relationship as to provide insulation to the wall, the improYement comprising said : 35boards being so shaped as to provide said cladding with "

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By "cooperative, adjacent relationship" is meant that the insulation boards are built o~ layered one adjacent or atop another between the structural support : members of ths wall as is pre~ently done in the art as to provide an insulation layer to thP wall.
; By the term "cladding with a plurality of interconnec~ing air pressure equalization and moistuxe :: 10 vent channels is meant cladding having a plu.ality of criss-crossing channels throughout a desired area of the cladding. It is not meant to include cladding having a plurality of parallel vertically aligned ch~nnels which intersect s~lely with a single, horizontally aligned channel extending across the width of the cladding, particularly, at a lower part thereof.
The boards are so shaped such that when they are part of the wall they produce, in consequence of i ad~acent relationship with other boards, a plurality of channels which inter-connect with ~each other and via a lower vent member with the outside atmosphere. The plurality of channels may extend substantially across the full area of the cladding or, if desired, only a part thereof. The wall may be provicled with intervening structures such as doors or windows which may abut, directly or indirectly, insulation boards according to the invention, but which wall still satisfactorily satisfies the object of the invention.
Although the invention includes cladding comprising boards as hereinabove defined wherein the vertically aligned channels communicate with horizontally aligned ~hannels at the sides, faces and edges, cladding formed o~ a plurality of boards having a plurality of vertically aligned channels on a ~ull face of the board, which channels must be in alignment contiguous with the ,.~
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plurality of upwardly aligned channels of at least one other board resting upon it. Provided that the full face also has a portion defining a lateral channel which interconnects with the upwardly aligned channels to provide an interconnecting air pressure equalization and vent channel.
Each o~ the insulation boards may be of any ~uitable shape and dimension. Preferably, the board is of the order of 1.2 m x 0.6 m x 800 cm rectangularly shaped batten of insulative material. Alternatively, each of the battens may be of other shapes, such as a triangle.
The battens may be so shaped as to provide suitable interconnecting channels of appropriate location, shape and dimension to permit satisfactory air pressure equalization and water removal. In one embodiment, the batten has cut-away edge portions along at least a portion of at least one edge of a first face which pre~erably constitutes the inner face of the cladding. The cut-away portion may be defined by the edge sur~ace as a quadrant arcuate form, semi-square ~orm or 45 degree angled form. In an alternative channel forming board of the invention, the board has a trough extending at least partly along at least one side of the board. Preferably, the trough extends the whole length and midway of each of the sidas.
Surprisingly, we have found that a relatively small vent hole in communication with the interconnecting air pressure equalization channels provides satisfartory equali~ation.
The cladding and the multi-layered boards have preferably an airtight inner barrier either adhered thereto, or disposed or adjacent in close proximity thereto.

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,, , Thus, in a further aspect ~he invention provides insulation boards as ~erein defin~d for use in the improved cladding of the wall of a building as herein defined.
One very important consideration that must be given to the construction of wall cladding, particularly, cladding of commercial and industrial buildings, is that concerning fire prevention and retardation. Wall claddinq comprising expanded polystyrene of the prior art is provided with a back wrapping comprising a glass fiber mesh embedded in a cement modified acrylic polymer base coat, which envPlopes, at least, th~ EPS.
Prior to the commercial introduction to the trade of a novel wall cladding for use in a commercial or industrial building, the wall materials and constructed wall must undergo extensive, standard fire testing. In one such test, a ~lame is played onto the back wrapping of the EPS insulative cladding to determine whether the resultant system meets the re~ulatory requirements.
It is known that EPS melts ca 170C to a viscous, but mobile fluid. Thus, in the wall cladding structure according to the invention, it is reasonable to expect that, notwithstanding the fire retardancy of the con~entional back wrapped EPS, under certain extreme high t~mperature conditions the EPS may melt and exit to and through the lower air pressure equalization and moisture vent channels of the panels and cladding according to the invention. Further, it is realized that the channels may also constitute passages in the cladding by which flames and hot gases may rise throughout the cladding in the event of a fire.
- Accordingly, to reduce the possibility of the channels in the cladding acting as ~uch flame passages, the invention provides in a further aspect, wall cladding ~` 35 of a building as hereinabove defined wherein a portion of ' , .

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By ~Ifluid pervious" is meant that air may readily pass ~hrough the material to allow of rapid air 5 pressure equalization when subjected to external wind effects and the like, and also allow water to be vented through and out of the channels. Clearly, such material must not be capable of being burnt in the event of a fire. Suitable materials include solid particulate 10 material, such as insulative vermiculite but most preferably, mineral wool and glass fiber in the form of intermeshed strands or layers. Provided that the location and volume of the flame resistant material in the channel is sufficient to prevent propagation of the 15 ~lame and also to absorb, hold~back or otherwise prevent or restrain any melted EPS from exiting out of the flame resistant material from the cladding, enhanced flame retardation and improved fire safety can be achie~ed.
In its simplest form, this aspect of the 20 invention comprises a wedge of the flame retardant material disposed within at least a sufficient number of channels to properly achieve ~he fire retardant and air pressure equalization goal~ Most frequently, the material will be disposed within channels at a suitable 25 lower place thereof, to optimally trap any melted EPS.
However, such material may be disposed adjacent or in close proximity to upper, and/or side edges of windows and doors in the wall, where air pressure differential equalization is paramount, although no water drainage 30 facility is required.
Preferably, the flame retardant material is disposed within a rigid ~ire resistant structure such as a small conduit formed of a metal, brick or the like, which communicates with and forms part of the channel.
35 The conduit may thus be embedded within the EPS or, more .
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In a most preferred embodiment the ~lame resistant system comprises a di~parate panel of flame resistant material as hereinabove described disposed below, but ext~ndi~g beyond the cro~s-sectional area of the channel. In one embodiment, the unit comprises a rectangularly shaped member formed of a mineral wool, glass fiber or the like whicih fits, wholly or partly, within an aperture wholly or partly within the cladding.
Thus, in a further aspect the invention :
provides cladding of a wall of a building as hereinabove defined, wherein a portion o~ at least one of said channels has a flame resistant fluid per~ious, particulate material disposed therein so as to form a flame resistant harrier ~or the channel.
In a preferred aspect o~ the invention the cladding ~urther comprises a member formed of a flame-retardant, fluid pervious, particulate material and disposed within, in whole or in part, said cladding adjacent and in communication with at least one of said channels so as to form a flame-retaralant barrier for iaid channel; said member having a conduit formed of a rigid, fire resistant material, which conduit has a first portion defining a first aperture in c~mmunication with said flame resistant material and a second portion defining a second aperture in communication with the iatmosphere, whereby said conduit constitutes an air pressure conduit and moisture drain in indirect communication with said channel. The second aperture may be in direct or indirect c~: lication with the atmosphere depending on whether or not an air and water pervious material is provided to prevent direct communication.

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iJ~ '3 Accordingly, in yet a ~urther aspect of the invention there is provided a flam~-retard~nt panel for use in the cladding of a wall of 2 building, said pane]
- comprising a fl~me-retardant, fluid pervious, particulate - 5 material; and a conduit formed of a fire resistant material and having a first portion defining a first aperture in communication with said flame-retardant material and a second pnrtion defining a second aperture in communication with the atmosphere. Preferably the conduit is formed of a rigid material such as a metal, for example, aluminum, copper, steel and the like, or a ceramic material. The second aperture may be in direct or indirect communication with the atmosphPre depending on whether it is advantageously provided with an air and water pervious layer or membrane.
The panel i5 preferably formed having the r~ conduit disposed, in whole or in part, within the fire-retardant material adjacent on~edge thereof. Preferably, the conduit has a substantial upst~n~ing portion projecting from an edge of the panel of such height from the edge of the panel that when fit:ted, eg. ca 1.5cm to li correspond with the thickness of caulking typically used between individual panels of a constructed cladding of a wall. The ~lame resistant pane:Ls according to the invention may be o~ any suitable ~;r-n~ion, but panels of 30cm x 8cm x 5cm, optionally provided with a back wrapping as hereinbefore describecl and having a metal conduit wherein the panel is adapted to fit between two adjacent insulative boards as hereinbefore described such that the lower end of the channel is disposed above the flame-retardant panel and the first aperture of the conduit, is most preferred.
` It will be readily understood by the man skilled in the art that flame retardant material and/or `35 flame retardant panels will be so disposed in the wall '`:
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5~ 3 cladding in relation to those channels where fire retardancy and melted EPS material retardation is desired. Preferably, ~ach 12m x 6m expanse of wall area has a flame-retardant panel at the lower end of each channel which abuts either a structural cross member or the top of the lower wall area expanse. Preferably, a minimum 8cm thickness of flame-retardant material is utilized.

:~ 10 Description of the Drawin~s Thus, in order that the invention may be better understood, preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a plurality o~ identlcal insulation battens according to the invention;
Figure lA represents a pe:rspective view of the battens of Figure 1 in cooperative adjacent relationship;
Figure lB represents a perspective view of alternative insulation battens according to the : invention;
Figures 2A - 2C represent schematic cross-sectional views of insulation battens, in part, having alternative cut-away edge portions according to the invention;
Figure 3 represe~ts a perspective view, partly cut-away of a multi-layered insulation batten according to the invention;
Figures 4 and 5 represent perspective views of wall claddi~g according to the invention comprising the insulation battens of Figure 1 or Figure 3;

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Figures 6, 6A, 6B and 6C represent perspective views of alternative boards according to the invention;
and Figures 7 and 8 represent diagrammatic per~pective views of modified wall cladding according to the invention, further comprising fire-retardant panPls.
Like numerals describe the same feature within the drawings.
Figure 1 shows a plurality o~ 1.2m x 0.6m x 8cm rectangularly ~haped insulation boards shown generally as 10, formed of expanded poly~tyrene and having a first or inner face 12, a second or outer face 14, upper face 16, lower face 18, and side faces 20, 22. Inner face 12, with faces 16, 18, 20 and 22 de~ine ~5 degree angled edges, 24, 26, 28 and 30, respectively.
Figure 1 shows the four boards 10 in intended " (as indicated by the arrows) adjacent relationship, one board 10 abuts other boards 10, with lower faces 18 to rest on upper faces 16 of a lower board 10 and side ~aces 20 abutting adjacent side faces 22. The effect of this construction is to provide a plurality of surface channels, 32 shown in Figure ~A, between boards 10.
Channels 32 constitute air pressure e~ualization and moisture vent channels in a cladcling of a wall of a building as hereinafter described.
Figure lA shows the plurality of insulation boards 10 in cooperative, adjacant relationship as tQ
provide insula$ion a~ a unified segm~nt of a wall as better described hereinafter.
Figure lB shows a plurality ~f triangular shaped insulation board~ shown generally as 50 having an inner face 52, side faces 54, 56 and 58, which with face 50 de~ine 45 degree angularly shaped edges, 60, 62 and 64, respectively. Cooperative, adjacent relationship construction of insulation boards 50 provides the ' :' :'.

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~1, ,''' ' resultant cladding with interconnecting air pressure equalization and vent channels as for the embodiment of Figure lAo With reference to Figures 2A - 2C, these Figures show, in part, insulation boards 10A, 10B and 10C
having cut-~way portions 40A, 40B and 40C, respectively, at edges, 42A, 42B and 42C, respectively, at inner faces, 12A, 12B and 12C, respectively. Thus, the surfaces of edges 42A define a 45 degree angled surface, edges 42B
10 de~ine a quadrant arcuate surface, and those of 42C
define a semi-square surfaceO
Figure 3 shows generally as 100, a . rectangularly shaped multi-layered board having a layer of insulation board 10 as described with reference to Figure 1. Adhered to inner face 12 of board 10 i5 a 1.2cm thick "GYPROCK"~ plasterboard 102 and to outer face :. 14 a modified basecoat 104. Basecoat 104 consists of two layers of glass ~ibre reinforcement mesh floated in a polymer coated modified base coat composition. To the . 20 outer surface basecoat 104 is an exterior decorative water proof 0.2cm thick layer 106 of an acrylic polymer impregnated with sand. Board 10 has edges 108 defined as 45 degree angled sur~aces which de~ine a cutaway portion 110. Portion 110 with cooperating, adjacent boards 100 .- 25 (not shown) define air pressure equalization and moisture vent channels.
Fi~ure 4 shown generally as 200~ a cladding for the wall shown generally as 202 of a building (not shown) : between structural steel supports 204.
.'30 Claddiny 200 comprises a plurality of insulation boards 10 as de.scribed with reference to Figure 1, or boards 100 as described wikh reference ko - Figure 3.
Boards 10 or 100, as the case may be, are . 35 manually laid in the s~n~rd, cooperative adjacent one-.:
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As described with reference to Figures 1 and lA, the array of ~he cut-away edged, ~haped boards when so laid - provide a plurality of horizontally and vertically 5 aligned channels 32 across the inner faces of tha boards within the wall cladding.
In an alternative embodiment, the cladding comprising a single full area of insulation board that may be constructed ln situ and the plurality of interconnecting channels in the form of troughs defined : on the sur~ace of the insulation inscribed thereon. The ; resultant appearance may be as shown as for Figures 4 or . 5.
Although within the scope of the present inven~ion, it can be readily seen that it is not necessary that the boards 10 or 100 be so stacked such that each vertical vent channel 32 runs continuously the height of the wall should the vertical edges of the boards be vertically aligned one directly on or below a vertical edges or channels of adjacent bvards, as shown with re~erence to Figure lA. Such an arrangement requires labour-attentiv~ correct positioning o~ each board 10 or 100.
. A significantly, advantageous feature of the . 25 present invention i5 that the boards according to the invention can be readily, quickly and satisfactorily, operatively laid in apparent haphazard manner one board adjacent, above or below other boards, to provide intermittent, vertically and horizontally aligned channels displaced from the vent channels of upper and lower cooperating adjacent boards. Thus, a wall so constructed with cladding accordin~ to the invention has ` a plurality of air pressure equaliæation and moisture :. vent channels which connect with a lGwer air vent oriface 34 in communication with the outside atmosphere.
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~ ~ ~ 3 ;~ ~l3 Figure 5 represents a wall claddlng shown generally as 300 of a wall shown generally as 302, and having an alternatively laid-out array of insulation boards according to the invention, wher~in the boards and channels 308 are aligned at an angle of ~5 degrees to the horizontal and vertical axes. In this embodiment, the rectangularly shaped boards 304 at the top, bottom, and at the side, adjacent structural supports 306 of the wall are non-rectangularly shaped, but are suitably and ; 10 readily shaped, for example by the cutting of the standard board or by manufacture with a suitably shaped mold.
As described with reference to Figures 1, lB, 2A - 2C the boards are laid to produce single layer ; 15 insulation cladding according to the invention to which, subsequently, are adhered desired layers of plasterboard, glass fibre, polymer reinforcement and outer decoration, as the cas~ may be, to provide a multi-layered insulation board-cladded wall. In the alternative, the cladding may be constructed to comprise the walL by methods known in the art with the multi-layered insulation boards as ;` hereinabove describ~d. Provided that the shape and size of the resultant air pressure equalization~and moisture vent channels in the cladding of the wall are sufficient to provide satis~actory communication with the outside ; atmosphere, the objectives of the present invention are met. Such suitable sizes and shapes of each individual insulation board may bs readily determined by the skilled person in the art.
In alternative embodiments, each of the :
insulation boards may have a side face portion defining a trough which provides, when in cooperative adjacent relationship with substantially identical boards, ;~ cladding with a plurality of interconnecting air pressure " .~
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Figure 6 shows a board 400 having an interface 402, outer face 40~ and side faces 406, 408, 410 and 412.
A portion of each of side fac~s 406, 40S, 410 and 412 has centrally thereof/ a trough 414 extending continuously around the sid~ faces. Boards 400, when constructed into a cladding according to the invention in a similar manner as hereinbefore described with respect to Figure 1, lA, 4 and 5, provide the resultant cladding with a plurality of interconnecting air pressure equalization and moisture vent channels throughout the cladding at the Pdges of each insulation board 400.
; In other embodiments of boards having a centrally provided trough, the trough may not extend the full length of ea¢h side nor be present on all four faces. For example, a suitable cladding may be constructed using boards having a central trough that extends only part way of one side face. Provided such an embodiment is cooperatively adjacent boards having sufficient lengths, locations and numbers of troughs to enable an interconnecting air pressure equalization and vent channel to be formed, then the objectives of this invention are met. However, it will be readily ; 25 appreciated that additional attention must be paid by the person constructing the cladding wall in order that side faces nok having a trough interp~sed betwe~n them are not formed.
` Fiyure 6~ shows an alternative embodiment of a board 500 of triangular shape having a centrally disposed ~rough 502 on each side face 504, 506 and 508. Wall cladding using boards 500 may be readily constructed as hereinabove described.
~i Figure 6B shows a board 600 of rectangular shape having an inner face 602 defining a plurality of :
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vertically aligned and laterally aligned interconnecting channels 604 and 606, respectively.
Figure 6C shows a board 700 of rectangular shape having a portion on a face defining a trough 702 substantially in the form o~ diagonal interconnecting ch~nnels.
In further embodiments, rectangularly shaped and triangularly shaped boards comprisiny multilayered insulation boards of materials and general construction as hereinabove described, may also be made having side faces with centrally disposed troughs as hereinabove described.
Figure 7 shows insulation boards 10 or 100, as the case may be, of the wall as shown in Figure 4 but having flame-retardant panels 220 comprising flame-retardant mineral wool 222 and conduit 224 having aperture 226 positioned below mineral wool 222 by which moisture percolates downwardly through to conduit 224, and an aperture 228 open to the atmosphere and acting as a spout.
Figure 8 represents a modified wall of Figure 5 having the flame-retardant panel described with reference to Figure 7. It will be readily appreciated that the spout or other drainage and air passage vents are most preferably disposed on the wall cladding on the outer or remote side from the channels on the inside or ; inner parts of the wall.
With reference to Figure 4, each of the vent channels shown therein, may, optionally have the fire-retardant material packed therein (not shown) or packed within a suitably shaped conduit (not shown).
Although this disclosure has described and illustrated certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the in~ention is not restricted to those particular embodiments. Rather, , ~, , ' , ...
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the invention includes all embodiments which are : functional or mechanical equivalence of the specific embodiments and features that have been described and illustrated.

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Claims

We claim 1. A wall of a building, said wall comprising:
an outer member;
an inner member; and insulation cladding disposed between said outer member and said inner member, said outer member and inner member substantially covering opposite surfaces of said insulation cladding, said insulation cladding including a plurality of insulation boards providing a plurality of interconnecting air pressure equalization and moisture vent channels.
2. A wall of a building, said wall comprising:
an outer member;
an inner member; and insulation cladding disposed between said outer member and said inner member, said insulation cladding including a plurality of insulation boards in such cooperative, adjacent relationship as to provide a plurality of interconnecting air pressure equalization and moisture vent channels; wherein said plurality of interconnecting channels cooperate with at least one of said outer member and said inner member to prevent a flow of air between an outer side of said wall and an inner side of said wall.
2. A wall of a building, said wall comprising:
an outer member;
an inner member; and insulation cladding disposed between said outer member and said inner member, said outer and inner members essentially covering opposite surfaces of said insulation cladding, said insulation cladding including a plurality of insulation boards in such cooperative, adjacent relationship as to provide a plurality of interconnecting air pressure equalization and moisture vent channels.
4. A wall as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said plurality of channels extend substantially across the full area of said cladding.

5. A wall as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein each of said boards has a first face, a second face and a plurality of side faces; and wherein said first face and at least one of said side faces define an edge so shaped as to provide said cladding with said plurality of said channels.
6. A wall having cladding as claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said boards has a first face, a second face and a plurality of side faces; and wherein said first face and said plurality of side faces define a plurality of edges so shaped as to provide said cladding with said plurality of said channels.
7. A wall as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein each of said boards has a plurality of side faces and wherein at least one of said side faces has a portion defining a trough so shaped as to provide said cladding with a plurality of saidchannels.
8. A wall as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said boards has a plurality of side faces having a portion defining a trough so shaped as to provide said cladding with a plurality of said channels.
9. A wall as claimed in claim 7 wherein said portion defining said trough extends substantially centrally the length of said side faces.
10. A wall as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein each of the said boards has a first face having a portion defining a trough so shaped as to provide saidcladding with said plurality of said interconnecting air pressure equalization and vent moisture channels.
11. A wall as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of said boards has a first face having a portion defining at least one interconnecting pair of channels so as to provide said cladding with said plurality of said air pressure equalization and moisture ventchannels.
12. A wall as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said boards are of rectangularly-shaped form.

13. A wall as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said boards are of triangularly-shaped form.
14. A wall as claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said edges of said boards as defined define a surface selected from the group consisting of a quadrant arcuate surface, a 45 degree angled surface and a semi-square surface.
15. A wall as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 comprising channels which are vertically or horizontally aligned.
16. A wall as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 comprising channels which are aligned at an angle selected from 30 degrees to 60 degrees from the vertical axis.
17. A wall as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said insulation board comprises one or more layers of material selected from the group consisting of expanded polystyrene, polyurethane, urea-formaldehyde, glass fibre, plasterboard, mineral wood and polymer-based particulate matter composition.
18. A wall as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a portion of at least one of said channels has a flame retardant, fluid pervious, particulate material disposed therein as to form a flame retardant barrier for said channel.
19. A wall as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 having flame-retardant, fluid pervious, particulate material adjacent and in communication with at least one of said channels so as to form a flame-retardant barrier for said channel.
20. A wall as claimed in claim 7 wherein said flame-retardant is disposed in whole or in part, within said cladding.
21. A wall of a building as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 further comprising a panel formed of a flame-retardant, fluid pervious, particulate material and disposed within, in whole or in part, said cladding adjacent and in communication with at least one of said channels so as to form a flame-retardant barrier for said channel; said member having a conduit formed of a fire resistant material, whichconduit has a first portion defining a first aperture in communication with saidflame retardant material and a second portion defining a second aperture in communication with the atmosphere, whereby said conduit constitutes an air pressure conduit and moisture drain in indirect communication with said channel.22. Insulation cladding of the wall of a building as defined in any one of claims 1 - 21.